FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer HealthCare, a U.S.-based unit
of Bayer AG <BAYG.DE>, said on Monday it had stopped a
late-stage trial of Nexavar in patients with non-small cell
lung cancer, after an independent data monitoring committee
said it would not meet the main goal of improved overall
survival.

In the late-stage study, patients received Nexavar in
combination with chemotherapeutic drugs carboplatin and
paclitaxel.

Bayer said higher mortality was observed in a certain
subset of patients treated with the combination of Nexavar and
the chemotherapeutic drugs, versus those treated with
carboplatin and paclitaxel alone.

Bayer had expected annual peak sales of around 750 million
euros ($1.1 billion) from Nexavar in this indication. Bayer had
hoped to launch Nexavar for non-small cell lung cancer in 2009.

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Bayer and co-developer Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc <ONXX.O>
will review the findings of the analysis to determine what, if
any, impact they have on other ongoing Nexavar lung cancer
trials.

Nexavar, also known as sorafenib, is approved in the United
States and Europe for kidney cancer and liver cancer. The
companies are studying the drug for treatment of a broad range
of cancers, including breast cancer.

Bayer shares closed down 2.3 percent at 54.15 euros. Shares
of Onyx closed down 1.1 percent at $44.98 on Friday. U.S. stock
markets were closed on Monday.